April 15, 2020
Presented By Laura Brown, Department of Extension, UConn
The Connecticut Trail Census is an innovative statewide volunteer-based data collection and education program that encourages data informed decision-making and promotes active citizen participation in multi-use trail monitoring and advocacy. The Trail Census includes trail use counts recorded by infrared pedestrian counters, trail user intercept surveys administered by trained volunteers, and public education programs including a GIS based data visualization portal. Over the past three years the project has documented thousands of trail uses and analyzed over 3,000 intercept surveys from 20 multi-use trail sites across Connecticut. The project is statewide and serves community leaders and decision makers including local elected officials, planners, economic development professionals, trail advocates, trail maintenance professionals, environmental, health and outdoor activity advocates, as well as the general public.